www.theblisspages.com - stop the war march

Links on this page: intro : the march : the banners : blair & Bush joined us! : everyone came : in the park : birds : outro

intro

I have been increasingly concerned about the political situation of late, with Bush determined to invade Iraq, and Blair becoming ever more isolated in his support. It seems a bit much that the country which has bombed over 20 other countries since World War II, which spends more on armaments than the rest of the world put together, and which has enough weapons of mass destruction to destroy the world many times over, is planning to invade another country on flimsy evidence, some of which comes from a university thesis written over a decade ago. If we do invade Iraq, and I hope we don't have to, it is essential that there is a second UN resolution first.

Before I went on the march, I nipped down to Brighton for my yoga session. As I exited Brighton station, I noticed several people with banners, and as I returned after an enjoyable session, the station was quite full. A fast train left a few minutes later, filled to overflowing with a cross-section of humanity, united by their unease about a war that is not justified.

Victoria station was a seething mass of humanity, with banners everywhere.

the march

I walked down Victoria Street towards the embankment, and the atmosphere was great, everyone with a common purpose.

The huge volume of people made it difficult to join the march, which started 45 minutes early due to the unprecedented number of people.

I got through the barrier along the embankment - the queue tailed back to Blackfriars, and the tailback to Blackfriars continued until after three o'clock!

the banners

As we walked, there were some very amusing banners, some of which I reproduce here. There was also some singing, from hymns to ditties like "George Bush, we know you, your Daddy was a killer too!".

Some messages border on the surreal.

Some used satire.

Some were more like street theatre.

Some were entertaining ...

blair and bush joined us!

... and some provoked belly-laughs by their antics!

everyone came ...

There was a huge cross-section of humanity, as I've mentioned. Lots of children, some in prams or on shoulders, people walking dogs, people in wheelchairs or on crutches.

From the young to elderly people, many on their first-ever march.

Many people were outraged that the politicians were blundering into war, on no real evidence. Of course, even the politicians are mostly disenfranchised, as they haven't been given the chance of a vote in parliament.

in the park

Eventually we reached the park, and the true scale of the demonstration was slowly becoming apparent as it filled up.

I was lucky enough to get within a hundred metres of the stage, but there were repeater screens and extra speakers so everyone could see and hear the speakers.

The speeches were already underway, and of the ones I listened to, the speeches by Tony Benn and Charles Kennedy impressed me the most.

One recurrent theme was the linking of Iraq with the need for Israel to create a lasting peace by allowing the creation of a Palestinian state.

birds

Again, there were many interesting and creative posters and models,

from the eagle ...

... to the dove!

... and even a few swans.

and so to home ...

Eventually, I had to leave. I hadn't had anything except an apple, a muesli bar and a coffee, and my feet were numb. I was also worried about getting home by the time my board games started. I walked back to a busy Victoria station and rushed hope to see the news and start work on this page!

I thought it was a fun and worthwhile day, and hope the sheer number of people (estimates vary between one and two million - the largest march ever in the United Kingdom) will give Tony Blair pause for thought.

I believe he is doing what he thinks is right, but he courts disaster if he goes to war without a second UN resolution.

I'd like to thank the organisers of the march, www.stopthewar.co.uk, who did a magnificent job. Well done!

I hope you enjoyed this report and it has given you a flavour of the day! If you have any comments, or have found any errors or omissions, please drop me an email.

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: : © Mike Bliss 2008